The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-03-22

He stopped speaking. He had forgot
ten the little girl in her calic" gown,
and was gazing ab>tractcdly out of the
window. hard lines of regret and pas
sionatc despair written ON his face. Sud
denly he felt little. warm, soft hand
laid gently on his, and Claric" >;.id:
''Mr. Rogers. am 80 sorry.
He wrung the little working hand.
and then he rose and went To his room
and gave WAY To his new SORROW. Ciar-
ice folded her sewing AMI put il away:
but ii comfortcd her a. she went about
her cvrnin" duties that Mr.. Rogers had
listened to her story. and tn know that
lac. Too, HAL missed the love he dreamed
of
Several months had passed away.
John Rogers had often found his WAY
into the shabby little parlor and chattcd
with Clarice. Once hr had found Il
bunch Of flowers on his bureau. and mo-
room i'm the house WAS such Eiudcl of
order.
One day ~ he >;luntcrrl into !hcpar-
Tor toward dusk. hoping that his little
friend would come there with her basket
of mending aud sit awhile. he heard the
rustic of feminine garments. and. look
ing up. SAW that his llndladv Stood be-
fore Kim. Mrs. Dean WAS woman who
pridrh herself on her former dignity.
She wore very long and dusty alpaca.
Il 10,
trail silk. she traiird alpaca. Some per-
Sons are of this mold. Her hands.
which she folded maic>lically, were
svcry grimy. Rogers remembered with
pleasure that Claricr WAS always neat.
"Mr. Rogers" began the lady with
unusual dignity, pray hc seated. |
have noticed for some time past that
you have frequently Of evenings found
your WAY into my parlurand passed tho
time i'm conversation with my daughter
Claricr. I should not speak of this cir
cumStancc had not events which have
already come Ia pass taught me To no
guarded. Clarice i no longer child.
she Is Il woman. with all womau'S read
mess to love pathctically. Gnu. though
not young man. are Il bachelor. and
| ask Won. ~ a mother tn spare nv
| daughters feelings. A. >lid before.
| should not have spoken of this had
not Il circumstance which tranSpircd
this morning led me tO believe il was
my duty. my most urgent duty. My
daughter is in the habit of assisting
with the homework. in clearing and
putting in order the rooms of my Gen
! tlcmen boarderS. This morning | en-
tered your room, expecting tn find
Clarice distinguishing with all the
| Observation-Disclosures inspired 10y we'll
fulfilled DUTY" continued Mr. Dean.
waxing eloquent Imagine my con-
sternation when found her kneelin@
by the bedside, her face pressed against
the pillows, i'm tcar>. She Spr;ing up
AMI tried to hide her agitation. but
Mr.. Rogers, am widow with eight
children and Il large houI>cful of board
ers. can not have yum trilie with the
feelings of my daughter. If YOU are
in earnest YOU must dc>ist." And the
lady applied handkerchief to her eyes.
Ii i said by some people that poverty
is degrading. Ii had certainly proved
So with Mrs. Dean.
Madam. said John Rogers. with
dignity. rising and LAYING his hand on
the chair. IF had not already learned
To love your daughter. this tale might
work upum my sympathic> and appeal
- my honor. but il could never make
words of love pass from my lips that my
heart could not echo. ! can not APP
plaud your course in revealing Your
daughters emotion. and which she
would mo doubt bitterly regret | love
Clarcc: she stole my heart when it was
sore and bleeding. and if | have awak-
ened any response ! am happier and
more honored man than had believed"
He bowed with the gentle courtesy
which John Rogers always used to-
ward women. and PASSED out of the
room. leaving Mrs. Dean very much re-
liered. hut somewhat Inundated. John
entered his room and shut the door He
struck Il light and turned oil the gas.
pulled down the shade and stood ir-
reSolutr. Like one i'm dream he
went to the bedside and laid his
hand against the pillow. 1t was slight
" damp. He sank down i'm chair
and covered his face with his hands
For long time he sat there motion
less: then he arose. took out his even
ing newspaper. and lighted his cigar ~
usual.
1t was a calm June afternoon.
John" said Clarice. touching his
arm with certain timidity she had
never quite outgrown, life is fairy
tale. and love is beautiful. only il comes